Tag: cruise advice

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Carnival Encounter Cruise SNAFU | Breakfast, Confusion, Show & Deck Party

by Deb & Matt | Apr 17, 2026 | YouTube: Deb And Matt Chat | 0 |

Welcome back to our Carnival Encounter Australia Day long weekend cruise series.

In this Day 2 cruise vlog, we share our first full day at sea aboard Carnival Encounter — and it turned into a real mixed bag. From a medical evacuation / passenger retrieval situation, to more onboard confusion around activities and theme nights, this was a day with a very unusual feel.

Join us on our first full day at sea in 2026 as we share our morning routine, including essential cruise travel tips for breakfast at the waterfront. We’ll show you how to navigate the check-in process, offering useful cruise tips and tricks for a smooth start to your day. Stay tuned for more cruise news and updates from our Carnival cruise adventure!

We also take you through breakfast, Meet the Officers, dinner in the main dining room, a bit of a dessert fail, and wrap up the evening with cruise entertainment and a deck party.

In this video:

Breakfast on Carnival Encounter
News of a medical evacuation at sea
More communication confusion onboard
Meet the Officers event
Main Dining Room dinner review
Main meal and dessert thoughts
Carnival entertainment and deck party
Honest thoughts on Day 2 of this cruise

This series follows our Australia Day long weekend cruise from Brisbane on Carnival Encounter, including cabin tours, embarkation day, dining, entertainment and honest first impressions along the way.

If you enjoy real-world cruise vlogs, ship reviews and Australian cruise content, make sure to subscribe to Deb & Matt Chat.

#CarnivalEncounter #CruiseVlog #CruisingFromBrisbane #CarnivalCruise #CruiseReviewWelcome back to our Carnival Encounter Australia Day long weekend cruise series.

The topics we cover in this video – Carnival Encounter, carnival encounter review, carnival cruise australia, carnival encounter cruise from brisbane, medical evacuation cruise ship, cruise ship medical emergency, carnival encounter dining, carnival main dining room, carnival encounter entertainment, cruise deck party,

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Some things Felt Wrong on Day 1 | Carnival Encounter Embarkation

by Deb & Matt | Apr 11, 2026 | YouTube: Deb And Matt Chat | 0 |

Welcome aboard the Carnival Encounter for our Australia Day Long Weekend Cruise!
We are so excited to be in Brisbane for an “Aussie Classics” cruise on Carnival Encounter! Join us as we kick off this Australia Day celebration with a sail away party. This cruise vlog will cover all the fun, from activities to food, offering cruise travel tips along the way.

This is Day 1 – Embarkation Day in Brisbane, and honestly… something felt a little off.

In this vlog, we take you through the full boarding process at the Brisbane International Cruise Terminal, explore the ship, and share our first impressions – including a surprisingly quiet atmosphere for a long weekend sailing.
In this video:

✅Cruise boarding process in Brisbane
🤔Impressions of Carnival Encounter
⁉️Why the ship didn’t feel full
🤯Confusion around cruise theme nights
🍴Specialty dining bookings (what we chose!)
🛌A possible cabin mistake
🤩NEW onboard changes (including Bonsai Sushi Express)
🚢Sailaway party vibes
😋Dinner at Trattoria Restaurant
👀First look at onboard activities

This cruise already had some surprises… and it’s only Day 1.
Let us know in the comments:
Have you ever been on a cruise that just felt… different?
This is part of our full Carnival Encounter series:
✔ Cabin tours
✔ Daily cruise vlogs
✔ Food & dining reviews
✔ Tips, tricks & honest experiences

Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss what happens next!

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Carnival Encounter Cabin Tour 5236 | Interior Quad Room Review & First Impressions

by Deb & Matt | Apr 5, 2026 | YouTube: Deb And Matt Chat | 0 |

Welcome aboard the Carnival Encounter! 🇦🇺

In this video, we take you inside Interior Cabin 5236, a quad-share cabin where we’re staying with three people during our Australia Day long weekend cruise.

This is our first impressions + full cabin tour, where we show you:

What the space is REALLY like with 3 guests
Bed configuration and layout
Storage options (and limitations!)
Bathroom setup and usability
Our honest first thoughts on comfort and practicality

If you’re considering an interior cabin on Carnival Encounter, especially for multiple guests, this is a must-watch before you book.

🚢 This is part of our Australia Day Cruise Series, so make sure you subscribe and follow along for:
✔ Daily vlogs
✔ Food & dining reviews
✔ Entertainment and onboard experiences
✔ Final cabin review at the end of the cruise

👇 Let us know in the comments:
Would YOU stay in an interior cabin with 3 or 4 people?

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: New Royal Caribbean Deployments for Australia South Pacific Lelepa

by Deb & Matt | Mar 24, 2026 | YouTube: Deb And Matt Chat | 0 |

Royal Caribbean has officially revealed its 2027/2028 Australia & South Pacific cruise deployment — and we’re breaking it ALL down.

We’re here to discuss the 2027-2028 Royal Caribbean itinerary for Australia! This video breaks down the specific ship details, departure days, and what’s missing from the schedule. Join us for some essential travel tips and cruise news as we share our predictions and thoughts on this exciting australia travel update. We’d love to hear your feedback in the comments!
In this full studio analysis, we dive deep into:

🚢 Which ships are coming to Australia (Anthem & Voyager)
🌴 South Pacific itineraries, ports & destination trends
🇳🇿 New Zealand cruise offerings (and the BIG catch)
📊 Cruise lengths, sailing patterns & departure days
🔁 Island double-ups and itinerary strategy
😮 What surprised us… and what disappointed us

We also take a closer look at:

⁉️Lelepa updates (and what’s missing…)
⁉️Inclusions vs expectations
⁉️Royal Caribbean’s strategy for the Australian market

If you’re planning a future cruise — or just love cruise news — this is your ultimate breakdown of the 2027/28 season.

👇 Let us know in the comments:
Would you book one of these itineraries?

🎥 Chapters
00:00 Intro
02:19 Royal Caribbean Australia Overview
07:20 Ports and Destinations
08:36 Island Cruise Doubles
10:42 New Zealand Destinations
11:23 Lengths of the Cruises
11:42 Anthem Sailing Length
12:07 Voyager Sailing Lengths
13:23 Departure Days
16:21 The New Zealand Catch
17:29 Surprises
18:37 Lelepa Downsides
19:02 Lelepa Inclusions
20:28 Final Thoughts

👍 Don’t forget to LIKE & SUBSCRIBE for weekly cruise news, reviews and deep dives.

#DebAndMattChat #RoyalCaribbean #CruiseNews #AustraliaCruise

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Our Cruise Turned Into a PIRATE PARTY! Full Day Vlog Voyager of the Seas

by Deb & Matt | Feb 28, 2026 | YouTube: Deb And Matt Chat | 0 |

Sea Day Royal Caribbean on Voyager of the Seas and things got… interesting.

What started with laser tag quickly turned into a full pirate takeover onboard.

Join us for a fun-filled “day in the life” aboard our Royal Caribbean cruise! We kick things off with breakfast, then head straight into an exhilarating “laser tag” battle. Later, we’re planning a lively “pub crawl” and enjoying all the “family fun” activities this “cruise” has to offer.

🏴‍☠️ Pirate pub crawl
💍 A pirate wedding ceremony
🔔 “Captain! Ring the Bell!”
🍽 Main Dining Room lunch
🐘 Towel animal surprises
🎉 Evening parties

Sea days on Royal Caribbean are never boring — but this one was next level. This is certainly not a family friendly day at say – but is definitely LOTS of fun.

If you’re wondering what to do on a cruise sea day, here’s what happened when pirates took over our ship.

👇 Question:
Would you join a pirate pub crawl at sea?

00:00 Voyager of the Seas
00:35 Laser Tag on Royal Caribbean
01:45 Lunch in the Main Dining Room
03:03 Pirates on Royal Caribbean
03:45 A Pirate Wedding on a Cruise Ship
05:53 Pirate Pub Crawl
12:45 Captain! Ring the Bell
14:25 Oh No!
14:42 Towel Animals
15:25 Dinner and Parties

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: No Plans in Luganville… Then We Found This 💙 Santo Blue Hole

by Deb & Matt | Feb 26, 2026 | YouTube: Deb And Matt Chat | 0 |

Day 7 of our New Year cruise brings us to Luganville on the island of Espiritu Santo — home to some of Vanuatu’s most beautiful natural attractions.

Join us as we document our arrival in Luganville in this latest travel vlog. The ship’s docking process is always fascinating to watch, and we’re sharing our morning routine, including some quick breakfast ideas. This cruise adventure in Vanuatu is full of unexpected moments, even when we have no pre-booked activities.

We arrived with:
❌ No shore tour booked
❌ No fixed plan
❌ No idea what to expect

And then we discovered the breathtaking Nanda (Jackies) Blue Hole. Now on of our Top Travel Recommendations.

Crystal clear freshwater. Lush jungle surrounds. Almost surreal.

Did we accidentally walk into paradise?

After exploring Luganville town and doing a short walking tour, we head back onboard Voyager of the Seas for:

🍝 Giovanni’s Italian dinner
🎉 80s Night
⚓ Anchors Aweigh
🎶 Cruise theme party

If you’re cruising to Santo or Luganville with Royal Caribbean, this is a must-watch port day guide.

👇 Question:
Would you explore without a booked excursion?

00:00 Intro
00:51 Breakfast in Cabin
02:37 No Table
06:18 Tour Options in Luganville
12:32 Did We Find Paradise?
19:10 Included Refreshments
21:49 Santo Blue Hole
28:13 Luganville Vanuatu
34:19 Luganville Shopping
36:04 Leaving Luganville
37:59 Anchors Aweigh
40:36 Giovanni’s Royal Caribbean
46:54 Cruise Theme Party
47:24 80s Night Royal Caribbean
48:07 Coming Up Next

#Luganville #SantoBlueHole
#VanuatuCruise
#VoyagerOfTheSeas
#RoyalCaribbean
#80sNight
#CruiseVlog
#DebAndMattChat

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Horse Riding in Port Vila 🐎 | White Night on Voyager of the Seas

by Deb & Matt | Feb 21, 2026 | YouTube: Deb And Matt Chat | 0 |

Day 6 of our New Year’s cruise brings us back to Port Vila — and this time it’s adventure day.

Matt ticks off a long-held dream with a beach horse riding tour at Club Hippique, riding through plantations, along the sand, and even into the water.

Meanwhile, Deb and Noah explore:

🗺️How to find duty free in Port Vila
👀Port Vila markets
💵What Port Vila duty free is really like
😥Tips for navigating long tender lines

We then reunite onboard Voyager of the Seas for a stunning sunset sailaway past Lelepa, before heading toward Luganville.

The night continues with:
🍴Main Dining Room dinner
🪜Guest entertainers in the theatre
🤍White Night theme
💃Latin Dance Party
⁉️What “Anchors Away” means onboard
🤔Honest show review

This episode blends:
🐎 Adventure
🌅 Beauty
🎉 Party vibes
🛍 Cruise port tips

👇 Question:
Would you book a horse riding shore excursion on a cruise?

Join Deb & Matt Chat as we share our day two adventures in Port Vila in this vanuatu vlog! We’ll take you along for some duty free shopping with Noah and a memorable horse riding vlog experience. Don’t miss our latest travel tips in this cruise vlog!

#PortVila #VanuatuCruise
#HorseRiding #BeachHorseRide
#VoyagerOfTheSeas
#RoyalCaribbean
#WhiteNight
#DebAndMattChat

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Dear Michael Bayley… We Have 3 Wishes for Royal Caribbean in 🇦🇺👀

by Deb & Matt | Feb 19, 2026 | YouTube: Deb And Matt Chat | 0 |

We filmed this at dinner onboard ⁨@RoyalCaribbeanAUNZ Anthem of the Seas Cruise Ship— and it might be our cheekiest video yet 😅

Dear Michael Bayley…

We have THREE humble wishes:

🇦🇺 Year-round Royal Caribbean cruising in Australia
🌴 An announcement date for Lelepa
🥧 And… we need to talk about the goat cheese tart

During the Captain’s Corner onboard Anthem, Matt asked about year-round cruising in Australia — and the whole theatre CHEERED. 👏

So we thought… why not make it official?

If you agree with us:

👉 LIKE the video
👉 SHARE it with your cruise friends
👉 TAG Royal Caribbean & Michael Bayley in the comments

Let’s see if this makes it to Miami 👀

#RoyalCaribbean #AnthemOfTheSeas #CruisingAustralia #DebAndMattChat
@RoyalCaribbean
We address Michael Bailey with three requests, focusing on the possibility of year-round cruising in Australia. As dedicated Royal Caribbean cruise ambassadors, we believe the Australian cruise community deserves this exciting development. We offer cruise tips and travel tips for those eager to explore the world on a cruise ship.

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Voyager of the Seas Cabin 8555 Tour | Connecting to 8553

by Deb & Matt | Feb 17, 2026 | YouTube: Deb And Matt Chat | 0 |

Join Deb & Matt Chat for a detailed room tour of stateroom 8555 on the Voyager of the Seas Royal Caribbean. This cruise vlog provides an inside look at the cabin, perfect for anyone planning a cruise ship vacation. We share all the details and what to expect in this stateroom.

If you’re cruising with family or friends, an interconnecting cabin can make all the difference.
In this video, we tour Cabin 8555 on Voyager of the Seas, an inter-connecting Promenade View cabin connected to Cabin 8553.

This is our first impressions and detailed walkthrough, covering:
✅Storage and wardrobe space
✅Bathroom layout & shower size
✅Bed comfort (firm or soft?)
✅Power points (and the big limitation!)
✅Air conditioning
✅Desk and drawer space
✅Promenade view & bay window
✅Connecting door between 8555 & 8553

If you’re deciding between:
✔️ Interior
✔️ Promenade
✔️ Balcony
✔️ Interconnecting cabins

…this video will help you understand exactly what you’re getting.

📌 Watch our full tour of Cabin 8553 here:
https://youtu.be/PerG673VenI

👇 Question for you:
Would you choose an interconnecting cabin — or prefer separate rooms?

👍 Like & Subscribe for honest cruise cabin reviews
🔔 More Voyager of the Seas content on Deb & Matt Chat

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: “Confidential Discussions” 👀 Royal Caribbean’s BIG Plans for Australia?

by Deb & Matt | Feb 14, 2026 | YouTube: Deb And Matt Chat | 0 |

We’re currently sailing on Anthem of the Seas and had the opportunity to ask a question during the Captain’s Corner… and the answer has us thinking 🤔

After mentioning he had recently visited Lelepa, the Captain spoke about “confidential discussions” regarding year-round cruising in Australia — and even hinted at the possibility of bigger ships.

Could Royal Caribbean be planning something major for Australia?

In this short update, we share exactly what was said, what it could mean for Aussie cruisers, and why this might be big news for Brisbane and Sydney.

If you love cruising from Australia and want the latest onboard insights, make sure you’re subscribed to Deb & Matt Chat.

🚢 Would you cruise year-round with Royal Caribbean in Australia?
Let us know in the comments!

#RoyalCaribbean #AnthemOfTheSeas #CruisingAustralia #Lelepa #CruiseNews

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Deb & Matt Chat is live from Sydney Harbout on Anthem of the Seaa

by Deb & Matt | Feb 13, 2026 | YouTube: Deb And Matt Chat | 0 |

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Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Chops Grille on Voyager of the Seas | Lunch vs Dinner | Royal Caribbean Review

by Deb & Matt | Feb 5, 2026 | YouTube: Deb And Matt Chat | 0 |

Next in our Voyager of the Seas Specialty Dining Series, we’re heading into Chops Grille — and wow… this one had some serious highs and LOWS 🥩😬

Join Deb and Matt as they take you on a detailed cruise vlog journey through the specialty dining experience at Chops Restaurant on Voyager of the Seas. This episode covers both lunch and dinner, providing a comprehensive look at the menu options and our honest opinions on the exquisite cruise food. Get ready for an in-depth review of Royal Caribbean specialty dining!

In this video, we review Chops Grille Dinner first, breaking down:

The dinner menu

🔍Starters and the famous lobster bisque
🔍A steak moment that had us saying “WOW WOW WOW”
🔍NY Strip, desserts… and a few cracks starting to show

Then we return for Chops Grille Lunch, where things take a turn:

🔍The Wagyu burger
🔍Filet mignon
🔍Missing sauce
🔍Questionable service
🔍And yes… we ask: “Is it still worth it?”

We finish with our honest verdict — including value, consistency, and whether Chops deserves your specialty dining dollars on Voyager of the Seas.

This video is part of our 3-part Voyager of the Seas Specialty Dining Series, also featuring:

🍣Izumi (Lunch vs Dinner)
🍝Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen (coming next)

👇 Let us know in the comments:
Have you had Chops Grille recently? Did it live up to the hype?

00:00 Intro
00:19 Voyager of the Seas Specialty Dining
00:40 Dinner Menu – Chops Grille
02:16 Starters
06:43 Lobster Bisque
07:47 WOW WOW WOW
09:15 NY Strip
15:32 Chops Grille Dessert
17:40 Marker 1
19:29 Lunch in Chops Grille
19:49 Chops Grille Lunch Menu
23:23 Cheated?
25:07 Chops Wagyu Burger
25:55 Chops Grille Filet Mignon
27:51 Where’s the Sauce?
28:04 Poor Service?
28:51 Dessert for Lunch
30:42 Final Thoughts
30:54 Unhappy?
33:20 How Could He Forget?
33:30 Is It Worth It?